The New York Liberty’s early WNBA playoff exit has raised doubts about head coach Chris DeMarco’s future. The first-year coach expects to return next season, but the team’s three biggest stars have not clearly supported him. All three declined to endorse his return

Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones were asked if they wanted DeMarco to return. None gave a clear answer. This has added to the uncertainty around the Liberty after their loss to the Atlanta Dream. Stewart said the team had enough talent to win but lacked consistency.

“Of course, we want to win a championship every single time we step on the court, but it's really hard in this league, and in order to do that, you need to be consistent for the full 44 games,” Stewart said.

She said the Liberty improved only late in the season and during the playoffs. Ionescu also avoided a clear answer about DeMarco’s future, saying the decision was up to the team’s management, as reported by ESPN reporter Alexa Philippou.

She thanked him for his work this season.

“We're thankful for everything that he's done this year,” Ionescu said.

Ionescu praised DeMarco for staying calm during difficult times but did not clearly support his return. Jones also avoided taking a position, saying players focused on their roles.

Chris DeMarco expects to return and plans to review the season and assess the staff and players.

Questions about DeMarco’s future come as the Liberty face a bigger challenge. The team needs to improve its consistency and defense if it wants to compete for another championship.

Liberty’s playoff exit raises questions about their championship hopes

ESPN’s report also showed how much the Liberty have struggled to maintain their recent success. New York reached the WNBA Finals in two consecutive seasons but has now missed the championship series for the second straight year.

The Liberty lost 85-83 to Atlanta on Friday, as the Dream completed a sweep of the semifinal series. New York had swept the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round.

However, the Liberty struggled against Atlanta’s strong defense and team play. The Dream also played without leading scorer Allisha Gray for all but 11 minutes of the series.

Stewart pointed to the Liberty’s defensive problems during the season.

“When people say defense wins championships, it's f---ing true,” Stewart said.

Her comments highlighted one of the biggest areas the Liberty must improve before next season.

Chris DeMarco also faced criticism for his decisions in the final moments of Game 2. He did not use the team’s final reset timeout or stop play to clarify whether the team still had one available.

Leonie Fiebich also admitted that the coaching staff’s limited WNBA experience may have affected some decisions during the season.

Despite the disappointing finish, Stewart, Ionescu and Jones remain under contract for two more years. This gives the Liberty another opportunity to build a team capable of winning the championship.

The team now faces important decisions about its coaching staff, defense and team chemistry. The Liberty must find a way to turn their star players’ talent into consistent performances.

Whether Chris DeMarco stays or the team chooses a new coach, New York will need to address these problems before making another championship push.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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